P.M. BRIEFING : Tokyo to Pay in Air Base Noise Suit

A Japanese court today ruled that the Tokyo government must pay residents near U.S. military bases to compensate for noise from night landings.

The Tokyo District Court, ruling on a suit filed against the government more than seven years ago, said Tokyo must pay up to $10,770 per person to 596 residents near the Yokota U.S. air base west of Tokyo. However, the court declined a request by the residents that the government forbid future night exercises because it is not in Japan’s jurisdiction to stop the U.S. military exercises.

The Japanese government has already spent more than $924 million to build anti-noise devices for residents around U.S. bases.